Roman slouched against the dull lockers, her hands at her back fiddling with the

icy locks. Her jaded blue eyes gazed across the empty hall, reading all the crooked
safety first posters displaced on the wall. Friction started to give out on the bottom of

her shoes and she began to slip down the metal wall. She focused her eyes to her

raged vans pulling her foot back closer, arching her leg for an extra boost until she felt

the breeze of another lace her pale face. Her pleated long skirt slightly tighten around

her purple leggings as the second body passed through the hall. Roman tilted her head

slowly raising it up watching the boy and girl run through the hall. Her eyes shamefully

followed the girl up and down as she continued to disappear out of sight. She had

strawberry blonde sun laced hair, wearing an egg shell button up blouse with a brown

swaying skirt, like hers but with no design. Roman began to study herself. Her hair

followed her head as she looked towards the ground, taking a deep sigh, she blew her

lips upward casting the strands of brunnette from her sight. Roman lifted her hand from

her back combing the stubborn hairs behind her ears. Maybe I overdid it with the coat,

she wondered, fiddling with the buttons, growing more suspicious of her look. Roman

rose up from the lockers, grabbing onto her polyester skirt, trying to smooth out the

unnecessary wrinkles. The wailing of the bell consumed her ears as she began to walk

to the lunchroom.

People were now flooding out of the classrooms, voices filling the lonely halls.

She watched the different patterns flash by her eyes, until a familiar face strutted out of

one of the classrooms. Cindy Warren. Roman was surprised to see what had become of

her once-loyal best friend. Like a puppy Cindy trailed behind the two girls, trying to

follow the conversation. Adjusting her messenger bag she couldnt help but feel

dissatisfied, not with Cindy, but herself. Being carried with the crowd she found herself
at the entrance of the cafe. Grabbing a tray she walked to the rough edged lunch lady,

ready to receive the colorful slop.

Romans eyes circled around the lunchroom looking for an empty table, she

spotted the table next to the trash can in the corner and began her journey. She couldnt

help but notice the way the tables were formed in cliques, like a cliched highschool

drama. Smirking at her own realization she reached the table taking a seat and reading

the room. Every day Roman sat at her own table, and every day she had the same

thoughts; she battled with the same desires. Friends continued to converse, laugh, goof

off. Roman just sat there. Fantasizing about being a part of it all, she noticed a certain

outfit, from across the cafe she had seen before. Egg shell colored blouse, long pleated

skirt, the girl from the hallway is coming in my direction. Their eyes connected and

Romans stomach dropped, shes coming to my table to talk to me, I would have to use

my voice. Clearing her throat she sat up straight making herself presentable. Hi. That

would be the first word she spoke to this girl. Roman tried to make it seem as though

she was staring at her food, but in the corner of her eyes she watched the girl approach.

One hand was fiddling with her buttons, while the other carried the fork, the girls

clacking footsteps were in hearing range. Roman lifted her head up ready to speak,

when the wind of the girl slapped her face, the pleated dress doing the same on her

back. She passed me. Confused, Roman spun her head around to see where the girl

had gone. To the trash can.

My Notes:

Try and make Roman part of the scenery and then by the end finally have her be

noticed...

Conflict: Maybe she can try and be more outside looking in, but she has more of an

internal conflict that wont allow her to become part of the crowd.

Rubric rating submitted on: 3/21/2017, 12:23:39 PM by kherzog@westport.k12.ct.us

DAMN! DANDY ...DUDE? DO-OVER

PHYSICAL EXPERTLY THE ASPECT THE ASPECTS THE

DESCRIPTION CONTRIBUTE TO POSITIVELY STRUGGLE TO FOLLOWING
DANDY THE CONTRIBUTE TO CONTRIBUTE TO ASPECTS
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THAN OTHERS: DEVELOPMENT
OF YOUR
CHARACTER(S):

SETTING EXPERTLY THE ASPECT THE ASPECTS THE

DANDY CONTRIBUTE TO POSITIVELY STRUGGLE TO FOLLOWING
THE CONTRIBUTE TO CONTRIBUTE TO ASPECTS
DEVELOPMENT THE THE NEGATIVELY
OF YOUR DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT IMPACT OR FAIL
CHARACTER(S): OF YOUR OF YOUR TO
CHARACTER(S), CHARACTER(S): CONTRIBUTE TO
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THAN OTHERS: DEVELOPMENT
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MOMENT FOR EXPERTLY THE ASPECT THE ASPECTS THE

CHANGE? CONTRIBUTE TO POSITIVELY STRUGGLE TO FOLLOWING
...DUDE? THE CONTRIBUTE TO CONTRIBUTE TO ASPECTS
 DEVELOPMENT THE THE NEGATIVELY
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CHARACTER(S): OF YOUR OF YOUR TO
CHARACTER(S), CHARACTER(S): CONTRIBUTE TO
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THAN OTHERS: DEVELOPMENT
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CHARACTER(S):

DIALOGUE EXPERTLY THE ASPECT THE ASPECTS THE

...DUDE? CONTRIBUTE TO POSITIVELY STRUGGLE TO FOLLOWING
THE CONTRIBUTE TO CONTRIBUTE TO ASPECTS
DEVELOPMENT THE THE NEGATIVELY
OF YOUR DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT IMPACT OR FAIL
CHARACTER(S): OF YOUR OF YOUR TO
CHARACTER(S), CHARACTER(S): CONTRIBUTE TO
SOME MORE THE
THAN OTHERS: DEVELOPMENT
OF YOUR
CHARACTER(S):

CONFLICT EXPERTLY THE ASPECT THE ASPECTS THE

(BEHAVIOR IN) CONTRIBUTE TO POSITIVELY STRUGGLE TO FOLLOWING
...DUDE? THE CONTRIBUTE TO CONTRIBUTE TO ASPECTS
DEVELOPMENT THE THE NEGATIVELY
OF YOUR DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT IMPACT OR FAIL
CHARACTER(S): OF YOUR OF YOUR TO
CHARACTER(S), CHARACTER(S): CONTRIBUTE TO
SOME MORE THE
THAN OTHERS: DEVELOPMENT
OF YOUR
CHARACTER(S):

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